Moving house guide

Your ultimate guide to moving home

there is a great deal to think about when moving home. our property experts have put together a home-movers checklist so you don’t forget the important stuff and can get on with enjoying your new home.

in the weeks beforehand – getting organised

removals firm or hire a van and do it yourself? moving companies work brilliantly, they do this day in, day out, they’re efficient and by taking care of this side of things they can remove a considerable amount of stress. however, you pay for this luxury. it’s time to make a decision according to your situation, which depends on what you can afford and if you will be physically able to move everything and drive a large van.

if you are using a removals firm, confirm with them what packing materials they provide. if you are doing the move yourself then start collecting practical packing boxes – it is best to have a mix of sizes as you will need to pack heavy items in smaller boxes.

declutter! it is time to donate or recycle what you no longer need so you don’t end up moving items that should go and potentially moving from ‘loft to loft’. if in doubt, throw it out.

if you intend to use an external storage company arrange this now and send the items to it straight away.

start packing the non-essential and seasonal items that you will not need to use before the move. things like books and Winter clothes (in the Summer) can be dealt with sooner rather than later.

create your own packing system. labelling boxes according to the room they are destined in will save you a lot of hassle and mess at the other end.

one month before (or when you exchange)

if you are in rented accommodation, inform your landlord or the owner that you are planning to leave and of course give them appropriate notice. being upfront and honest at this stage means that you may get a bit of flexibility in return should your moving date alter.

make a list of everyone you will need to notify about your move, as well as friends and family you will need to inform your employer, children’s schools, doctor, dentist, optician, bank, inland revenue, insurance companies and so on. read our handy checklist of ones you need to remember.

arrange for the council to pick up large, unwanted items, you may be charged for this. or sell larger items on Gumtree or eBay or donate them to a local charity.

start to pull together a list of takeaways and their menus ready for moving day. you may not have broadband for a while and you will no doubt be too tired to cook after a long day of moving and unpacking.

when you have a moving in date

if you have any flat pack furniture that you will not need before your moving date, dismantle it so you maximise the van space you have and create room in your current property

confirm your moving arrangements with the van hire or removal company if you are using one

collect all the keys for your current property and label these for the next owner

clear out the garden shed, the loft and garage

inform your employer about your imminent move and book time off if needed

organise childcare and pet care for the day of the move. there will be a lot of coming and going in both properties and trying to ensure children and pets are safe will only add to the stress. arrange for them to be looked after away from your home.

sending your new address to family and friends will keep them updated and keep you in touch – if you let them know before you move you might even get a card!

arrange for your mail to be re-directed with the Post Office. whilst you have a list of organisations that you will inform directly there will be ones that slip through the net. signing up to the redirection service for a few months will ensure you do not miss anything important.

don’t forget your online shopping accounts. many people use one click ordering which has a default address – make sure you change this so you get what you order!

change your home insurance and ensure that the change means you are covered on the day that you move. It is worth double-checking your policy for details on any damage incurred during the moving process.

the day before

if possible, clean your new house before you move in, especially if there is flooring that needs attention. you will be busy with other things so it can be a good investment to get a company in to manage this for you.

defrost your fridge and freezer ready for transit.

complete the last minute packing apart from the clothes and bedclothes that you will need for the next couple of days. give yourself some clean clothes for the evening of your move – it is a messy business and you might appreciate a shower and change of clothes without having to unpack everything.

make up a toiletries pack for your first night so you can pack everything else. include toilet rolls, kitchen rolls and have a separate house cleaning kit.

make up a refreshments kit for moving day, include a cool bag for milk and a kettle and ensure you have plenty of soft drinks including water, coffee, tea, sugar and snacks, cutlery, mugs, glasses and plates. You might want to include a bottle of champagne and some glasses to celebrate!

pull together a first aid kit for any mishaps that may happen during the move.

pull together a bag of various sized batteries and lightbulbs for use in the new house.

leave yourself a post it note on the inside of your front door to remind you to take and submit meter readings before you leave.

on the big day

find out where your mains supplies are and most importantly how to switch them off, it’s good to know this from the word go in case of accidents or burst pipes where you will need to turn things off in a hurry.

check for smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, test them and ideally change the batteries with the ones you packed yesterday!

find the fuse box and make sure you fully understand how it is labelled.

ring your final meter readings for the old property and opening readings for the new property through to the suppliers. take a photo of the meters with your phone if you need to do it later.

introduce yourselves to your new neighbours and apologise for any disruption and for blocking their drive in advance, it’s best to start the relationship on the right foot

when you are in

go back to your checklist – have you notified all of the organisations?

get your will updated – particularly if your personal circumstances have changed with the move.

contact your local authority: Let them know who and when you moved in. the local authority will need to send you a Council Tax invoice from when you purchase your property to coincide with the seller leaving.

change the locks – this is a good idea as you cannot know how many keys previous owners have had or handed out.

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